Interlocking terminal block



April 24, 1956 w. A. DE SMIDT INTERLOCKING TERMINAL BLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 16, 1953 INVENTOR. MW BY flaw/KM film hey April 1956 w. A. DE SMlDT 2,743,373

'INTERLOCKING TERMINAL BLOCK Filed March 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVEN TOR.

u/MW Q. 91M BY 2,743,373 INTERLOCKING TERMINAL BLOCK Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,670 6 Claims. (Cl. 339-198) This invention relates to terminal blocks for electrical conductors and it more specifically resides in a multiple binding post terminal block having a number of segments arranged in a row with adjacent segments interlockingly connected to retain one another in fixed position when mounted u'pon a panel with the end segments secured to the panel."

.Term'inal blocks for electrical panels, and the like, providing an array of uniformly spaced terminals are commonly employed to facilitate the wiring of the panels and to provide convenient terminals for connection with remote apparatus. It is of advantage to assemble such terminal blocks from individual terminal units that may quickly and easily be joined withone' another to build up blocks of desired size. In accordance with this invention terminal blocks are formed from segments having like. projections that fit within one another to position each with respect to the others. The segments are of configuration adapted for molding in one piece, from an insulating material such as a phenol aldehyde. There may be attached to each segment a pair of binding posts with a conductor bus extending therebetween comprising terminals for conveniently securing electrical conductors leading to and from the block. Further, the segments may be formed to partition the sets of binding posts and to prominently display marking indicia for the terminals. The ends of a completed block are adapted to be anchored to a mounting panel and an interlocking fit between segments retains the'intermediate'ones place.

It is one of the objects of this invention to'provide' a terminal block comprised of segments each having like projecting tenons and complementary mortises, that may be quickly and easily assembled from such segments: to build up a block having the desired number of terminals.

It is another object of this invention to provide a terminal block of interconnected segments wherein the segments interlockingly fit in fashion to mutually retain one another in position upon a panel Without resort'to individual anchoring of the segments to the panel oradditional connecting members extending between the segments.

It is another object of this invention to provide a terminal block of interlocked segments wherein both an endwise and a vertical relative movement, must be made between adjacent segments to join them with one another or to detach one from the other.

It is another object of this invention to provide a terminal block of interlocked segments wherein eachsegmentincludes an individual marking indicia face dis-" posed between a pair of electrically joined binding posts of a terminal, thus eliminating marking indicia strips' extending across several segments. i Y j And it is another object of this invention to provide a terminal block of interlocked segments wherein each segment may be selectively provided with either of alterf nate forms of binding posts, to be adapted for securing conductors having stranded wire ends, or'looped ilug equipped ends.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and in which there is shown by way of illustration and not of limitation specific forms in which this invention may be embodied.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a-view in perspective of an individual terminal block segment in which this invention is embodied showing the terminal end of the segment,

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the terminal block segment of Fig. 1 showing the opposite end of the segment,

Fig. 3 is a terminal end view in elevation with parts broken away and in section of the terminal block shown in Fig. 1, I

Fig. 4 is a side view in elevation and in section of a pair of terminal block segments joined to one another viewed through a plane like 4--4 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a side view in elevation and in section of the terminal block' segments shown in Fig. 4 viewed through a plane like 5-5 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a terminal block, comprised of a number of individual terminal block segments and secured at the ends to a panel, and

Fig. 7 is a plan View of a plurality of terminal block segments forming a terminal block with the end segments detached from the intermediary segments.

Referring now to the drawings, a terminal block segment 1 is viewed in Fig. l to show the terminal mounting end thereof and in Fig. 2 the segment 1 is viewed to show the opposite end that is complementary in configuration to the terminal end. A plurality of segments 1 may then be joined to'one another in end to end fashion as shown in Fig. 6, wherein two like segments 1 and a terminating segment 2 are joined to form a terminal block 3. The terminal block 3 is mounted at its ends by mounting screws 41 to a panel42. By adding addi- I tional segments 1 to that end of the block; 3 comprised of alike complementary segment 1 the block 3 may be built up to provide the number of terminals desired.

Each segment I has a partition rib.4 extending from side to side.' Projecting endwardly from the lower central portion of one face of the rib 4 is'a tenon 5 having plane side faces 6, end face 7 and upper face 8, as shown in Fig. 2. A step 9 protrudes along the lower margin of each side face 6 and a ridge 10 is, formed at the juncture of the upper face 8 and the rib 4. An elongated recess 11 is cut in the upper face 8 and an opening 12 for a mounting screw 41 leads downwardly from the recess 11 through the tenon 5. Along the bottom margins of the face of the rib 4 from which the tenon 5 protrudes a short mortise notch 13 extends at each side of the tenon 5. The notches 13'have a height equal to that of the steps 9 and are of a depth as shown in Fig. 5. Projecting from the lower portions of the opposite side of each rib 4 is a ,pair of tenon piers 14 and 15 located on the outer portions of the rib 4 adapted to form. a mortise therebetween that will' snugly receive a tenon 5 of an adjacent segment 1. Inner vertical faces 16 of the piers 14, 15 are disposed to matefwith the side faces 6 of a tenon 5 and the steps 9fon each side of a tenon 5 will be received by the recesses formed by the faces 17 I 13 to be snugly received therein.

A raised shoulder 20.extends across the top of each pier 14, 15 to provide-support for a metallic conductor In the drawings there is shown, inFigs. l, 3-7,'*

bus. a bus 21 with raised ears at the end corners andalso, in

Fig. 6, an alternative form of bus 22 that is flat overall. The purpose of an alternate selection of form for the conductor buses will be hereinafter set forth. On the underside of each bus 21, 22 a detent23 protrudes for insertion in a recess 11 ofatenon of an adjacently dis posed segment 1. The position of a detent 23 within a recess 11' is shown in Fig. 4 wherein two segments 1 are shown joined and only the left hand segment 1 is provided with a bus 21. As shown in Figs. 3 and 5 an opening 24 extends through each pier 14, and a thin insulating wall 25 partitions each opening. The insulating walls 25 may be broken away, if desired, to pass bolts completely through the openings 24, such as is illustrated by the bolt 26 in Fig. 5.

Also projecting from each rib 4 is a marking indicia boss 27 that is above the tenon piers 14, 7.5 and centered to overhang the space between the piers 14, 15. The underside 23 of the boss 27 contacts the conductor bus 21, or 22, to hold the bus in conjunction with the shoulder 20 of piers 14, 15. A ridge 29 is formed at the juncture of the underside 28 with the rib 4 and engages the conductor bus to space the bus from the rib 4 in centered position with the shoulders 20 of the piers 14, 15. The end face 30 of the 'boss 27 is flush with the end faces 18 of the piers 14, 15 and the upper face 31 is adapted to receive marking indicia 32.

To assemble. a first segment 1 with a like second segment 1 the first is disposed slightly higher with the piers 14 and 15 straddling the tenon 5 of the second. The first segment 1 is then brought downwardly to move the detent 0 23 into the mating recess 11. The segments are then moved endwise together and the tenon toes 19 on the piers 14 and 15 are engaged within the mortise notches 13. The interlocked position of the two segments is shown in elevation in Figs. 4 and 5. An endwise displacement followed by a vertical movement is required to detach one from the other. The surfaces of the tenon 5 mate with the inner faces of the piers 14, 15, as hereinbefore noted, and the piers 14, 1S fitting snugly about the tenon 5 abut the adjacent rib 4, as likewise does the end face 30 of the boss 27. Also, the ridge 10 engages the conductor bus 21, or 22, as is shown in Fig. 4.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 a completed terminal block has a terminating segment 2 at one end that in appearance matches the opposite end from which a tenon 5 projects. A segment 2 has a partition rib 33identical to a rib 4 of a segment 1. As shown in Fig. 7, a tenon 34, identical to a tenon 5, projects from one face of the rib 33 for interlocking engagement with a segment 1. An anchoring tenon 35projects from the opposite face of the rib 33 and has an opening 36 to receive a mounting bolt 41.

A terminal block comprising a terminating segment 2 and a desired number of segments 1 may be placed upon a panel 42 and mounting bolts 41 may be passed through the two endmost tenons 5, 35 to secure the entire terminal block in place. The interlocking fit .between segments precludes a shift of one segment relative to the others. If it is desired to secure .an intermediary segment to the mounting panel .the conductor bus, for that segment, may be removed and the thin walls 25 in the openings 24 may be broken out to pass a bolt 26 that is secured at its lower end to the mounting panel. In like manner a conductor bus for a circuit may be grounded by passing a bolt 26 through the bus and the opening '24 for connection with the panel that serves as ground.

To facilitate connection with various forms of conductor ends the binding posts of the terminal block may take various form. The conductor .buses 21, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5-7, have terminal screws 37 and are adapted for use with conductors having looped ends or forked lugs.

For straight ended stranded wire conductors a lug .38 fits over theend of a conductor bus 22,.as shown in Fig. .6, and extendsdownwardly about theedges of the shoulder greases 20. A binding post screw 39 is threadedly engaged with the bus 22 and clamps the stranded conductor wire between the bus 22 and the lug 38.

As shown in Fig. 7 segments may be constructed in varying size for different current ratings. As an illustrative example, the larger segments 1 may have a 25 ampere rating and the smallersegments 40 may have a rating of 15 amperes. The mating portions of segments 1 and 40 have like dimensions, thus a terminal block may be quickly and easily built up of segments of different current ratings, as a further advantage of this invention.

[ claim:

1. in a segment for a multiple terminal block comprised of like segments the combination of a vertical sidewardly extending insulating partition rib, a tenon extend ing endwardly from the bottom portion of a face of said rib with an opening for an anchoring member extending vertically therethrough, a pair of piers extending endwardly from the opposite face of said partition spaced from one another to form a mortise complementary to the surfaces of said tenon adapted to fit closely about a like tenon of a second segment and having openings entering from the upper faces thereof, a boss spaced above and between said piers, a terminal conductor extending across the top of said piers and beneath said boss, and terminal binding post members cooperatively engaged with said terminal conductor extending within the openings of said piers.

2. A segment for a multiple terminal block in accordance with claim 1 wherein said terminal conductor has a downwardly extending detent adapted to be disposed within the opening of a like tenon of an adjacent second segment disposed between the piers of the first segment.

3. A modular segment for a terminal block in accordance with claim 1 wherein the openings in said piers extend through .the same and are closed off by a thin insulating wall disposed within each opening.

4.. In a segment for a multiple terminal block comprised of like segments the combination of a sidewardly extendingpartition .rib, a tenon extending endwardly from a face of said rib, a pair of piers extending endwardly from the opposite face of said rib spaced from one another to form a mortise complementary to surface areas of said tenon and adapted to fit closely about a like tenon of a second segment, a boss extending endwardly from the same face of. said rib ,as said piers and rising above said piers, and .a terminal conductor extending transversely beneath said boss and exposed at the sides of the boss, and terminal binding posts threadedly engaged with said terminal conductor at each side of said boss.

5. A segment for a multiple terminal block in ac-- cordance with claim 4 wherein said boss has a plane horizontal upper face adapted to receive a marking indicia.

.6. In a terminal block the combination comprising a plurality of adjacent segments, each having a conductor and terminal posts forming a part thereof, arranged in end to end relation detachably joined in abutting position; each segment having a major tenon extending endwardly from one face, a pair of piers spaced from one another extending endwardly from the opposite face of the segment to form a mortise having surfaces complementary to those of said tenon and adapted to fit closely about a liketenon of an adjacent segment, a minor tenon extending endwardly from the segment of an endwise length less thanthat of said major tenon, .a minor mortise complementaryto said minor tenon having surfaces adapted to fit closely .about a like minor tenon of an adjacent segment whereby a pair of abutting segments may be initially separated by endwise movement alone, a detent finger extending from said segment transversely of the endwise direction, and an endwise extending recess adapted to receive a like .detentfinger of an adjacent segment which. is bounded by an end wall that limits relative endwise movement with an adjacent segment upon being separated therefrom by interference with the like detent finger of the adjacent segment; said interference occurring after a disengagement of the minor tenon'and the complementary mortise of the adjacent segments being separated that permits relative transverse movement of the adjacent segments for completing separation of the adjacent segments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 848,505 Steinberger Mar. 26, 1907 6 Graham .Q Mar. 22, 1946 Latta Dec. 23, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Mar.'21, 1933 I France Oct. 15, 1945 

